Write letters, bust stress, army personnel told

Jaisalmer, Jan 8 (UNI) In an era of latest communication networks where mobile phones, email facilities are available even in remotest corners, asking to write letters may sound odd.

But more than the exchange of ideas, letter writing has some thing more to it than meets the eye.

The military and security personnel posted at the border areas are asked to ''write letters and bust stress'', Letter writing is part of a stress management programme introduced in view of increasing number of homicide by the jawans.

Deputy DIG Jaisalmer sector North DB Saraswat said, ''letter writing is not only a means of communication but it acts as a stressbuster giving an opportunity to vent one's feelings and emotions,'' he said, adding, ''according to applied psychology it acts as a medicine''.

This is all the more important following the emotional drain a soldier suffers during posting at far off and inhospitable terrain, cut off from the rest of the world, which takes a toll on their physical and emotional health.

Apart from yoga, sports activities have been promoted in a big way and made compulsory in sector headquarters and battallion headquarters to refresh the jawans. The interaction programme between officers and jawans is also being encouraged to bridge the gap between them.